Beyond Graceland's Gates

Chapter 29 - Honeymoon Bliss

The air in Palm Springs was warm and dry, a welcome change from the hustle and chaos of Memphis and Las Vegas. The house Elvis had rented for our honeymoon was tucked away in the desert hills, secluded and quiet. For the first time in what felt like forever, it was just the two of us. No cameras, no crowds, no obligations—just me and Elvis, enjoying the peace and quiet we'd been craving for so long.

"Feels good to get away, doesn't it?" Elvis said as he leaned back on the lounge chair, his sunglasses perched on the tip of his nose. The sunlight bathed him in a golden glow, making him look even more like the star he was, though out here, it was easy to forget about the world he belonged to.

I smiled, looking out at the endless stretch of desert. "It really does. I feel like we've been running nonstop for months."

Elvis chuckled, reaching for my hand. "We have been. But now it's just us, baby."

The days in Palm Springs were filled with lazy mornings, long walks, and quiet conversations. We'd spend hours by the pool, talking about everything and nothing all at once. It felt like we were getting to know each other all over again, away from the pressures and expectations that constantly surrounded us.

One morning, as we sat together eating breakfast on the terrace, Elvis turned to me, his expression serious. "You know, Vic, I've been thinking."

I raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of my coffee. "About what?"

"About us. About the future." He paused, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of his napkin. "I know things are gonna get crazy again once we get back. But I don't want that to come between us."

I set my cup down, studying him carefully. "Elvis, we've been through so much already. We've made it this far, haven't we?"

"Yeah, but this is different now. You're my wife. I don't want to mess this up, Vic." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There's so much going on, with the movies, the music, the Colonel... It's hard to find time for anything else."

I reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. "We'll figure it out, Elvis. We always do. And now that we're married, we have to make time for each other, no matter what."

He looked at me, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "What if I can't? What if the work gets in the way, like it always does?"

"Then we'll work through it," I said firmly. "We've come too far to let anything pull us apart now."

He squeezed my hand, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're right. I'm lucky to have you, Vic."

"You're damn right you are," I teased, earning a soft laugh from him.

In the afternoons, we'd drive around the desert, exploring the quiet roads and taking in the beauty of the mountains. Elvis loved the freedom that came with being away from the spotlight, and I could see the tension slowly melting away from his shoulders.

"Look at that," Elvis said one evening as we watched the sun set over the desert. The sky was a blend of pinks and purples, casting a magical glow over the landscape.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, leaning into him. "I could stay here forever."

"Maybe we should," he said, his voice soft. "Just forget everything else and stay here, just the two of us."

I smiled, knowing that as tempting as the idea was, it wasn't possible. "You'd get bored, Presley. You need the music, the stage."

He chuckled, pulling me closer. "Maybe. But for now, this is all I need."

At night, we'd sit under the stars, talking about the future. Elvis would play his guitar, strumming quietly as we talked about our hopes and dreams.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like if we weren't in the spotlight?" I asked one night, watching the stars twinkle above us.

Elvis shrugged, strumming a few chords absentmindedly. "Sometimes. But I don't know if I'd know how to live any other way."

I rested my head on his shoulder. "I think we could make it work. Just the two of us, somewhere quiet, like this."

"Maybe one day," he said softly, his fingers brushing against mine. "But for now, this is our life. And as long as I've got you by my side, I think I can handle it."

The days passed in a blissful haze, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like we had all the time in the world. But as our honeymoon drew to a close, I could feel the weight of reality creeping back in. The calls from Hollywood started coming in again, reminders that Elvis had commitments to keep, movies to film, and appearances to make.

One evening, as we sat together by the pool, Elvis turned to me, a hint of worry in his eyes. "You ready to go back, Vic?"

I sighed, glancing out at the desert. "I don't think I'll ever be ready. But we'll be fine, Elvis. We've got each other. That's what matters."

He nodded, though I could see the tension returning to his face. "I just wish we had more time. I don't want this to end."

"It doesn't have to," I said softly, taking his hand. "We'll take this feeling with us, no matter where we go."

He smiled, pulling me into his arms. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

"That's why you married me," I teased, earning a laugh from him.

As we lay together that night, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping in. Our love had been solidified by marriage, but the world we were returning to was still the same—filled with flashing cameras, demanding schedules, and the constant pressure of fame. Could we hold on to this happiness, or would the life we had built together be swallowed by the very world that had brought us together?